The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-04
INDIANS AS GAMBLERS.
The Hand Game of the Shoshones and
Bannocks-How 1t Is Played.

The Shoshon,s and Bannocks on the
ShoshOne reservation in Idaho have, like
most Indians, a fondneSs for gambling. To
all observer the hand game common
among these Indians would Seem more like
a recreation than a propensity for gam
bling, for no matter how interesting the
game may he good humor invariably pre-
walls. n party of Shoshones and Bannocks
We're encamped near the station one after
noon, five Of whom-two men and three
squaws-were deeply engrossed in the hand
game" After half an hours close attention
l managed to obtain fair idea of the game.
The two men were partners and sat facing
their opponents, the three squaws. In front
of each of the opposing sides was pile of
twenty small sticks, to be used rs count
ers, " and in the center of the space inter
vening was the money, some 81 or 81 Two
we'll polished pieces of convex shaped bone IA
large as lead pencil i'll the largest part,
and possibly three inches III length, well
wrapped with cord or sinew for inch or
more i'll the center and two pieces of the
same dimensions unwrapped or presenting
the white surface only, constituted the gam
bling outfit.
Two of the three squaws grasped a
wrapped and unwrapped bone, one III each
hand, and together with the third Saiuaw
began moving their hands rapidly from side
to side, describing "A half circle and accom-
panying the motion with "A peculiar nasal
humming. The men were now all attention.
it being their duty, il seems, To guess which
hand of either the thret. squaws contained
the white bone. Whenever the guesser lost
one stick from his joint pile of twenty was
transferred TO the pile in front OF the squaws,
and when he won, the bones. together with
Of the sticks, Immediately passed into his
possession. As soon his partner was
MI m
to hold the bones. The actions of the two
men now were slightly dissinilar to those
gone through by the three squaws. The
bones We're held One in each hand "a had
been done by their opponents hut instead of
swinging the hands back and forth, they
Were placed under the arms, accompanied by
an up and down motion of the body and the
same peculiar humming. When IA Squaw
made all unlucky guess size would pay the
usual forfeit, and the man 10y deXterous
movement would throw both bones IA short
distance in the air. showing which hand held
the corded and which the plain bone. When
changing the BONES from hand IL hand lie
meath the folds OF his blanket or behind his
back his maneuyerS We're continued until
the bones passed out of his POSSESSION.
And 80 the game progressed, first one side
holding the bones an then the other. A. the
bones were changed from hand To hanl be-
h.
effort being made To cheat, AMI "a lucky
guess.r being the only requirement Of IA sue
cessful player, the games were always Of ia
finite duration, this one in particular lasting
several hours. | was unable IL find out pre-
cisely what part the third s'iIIaw took III the
game, for at no time did discover the ZONES
in her possession, but the hands of each
of the three squaws We're held close together
and in the swaying motion often came IN
close proximity To those of the s,Iuaw sitting
next, il is probable that the third sluaw was
used to mislead the men, who, it would
appear, regarded the more skillful
players.
Inc eStcrn New York ItOrTIcuIuraI
society will hold its thirty -secoud annual
meeting mt Rochester on "Wednesday, Jan.
%. Papers are promised from John j.
Thomas, DIR. f.. Lewis Sturtevant, Charles
III. Green, DIR. j. y. Lintncr and others
prominent in horticulture.
The December crop report states that
the farm value of corn which last Decem-
Der was 33 cents per bushel IL now =.
cents, one cent higher than the crop of
1884. and the average December price of
wheat is 80 cents, IA reduction of cents
from the average value OF the last crop